Drill bits and drilling apparatuses including the same

Abstract

A roof-bolt drill bit has a bit body rotatable about a central axis and at least one coupling pocket defined in the bit body. At least one coupling pocket is defined in the bit body, the at least one coupling pocket being defined by a pocket back surface, a first pocket side surface having a substantially planar surface extending from the pocket back surface, and a second pocket side surface having a substantially planar surface extending from the pocket back surface, the second pocket side surface being nonparallel to the first pocket side surface. The first pocket side surface extends at an angle of between approximately 45° and approximately 90° relative to the second pocket side surface and the first pocket side surface and the second pocket side surface are separated from one another.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A roof-bolt drill bit, comprising:
 a bit body rotatable about a central axis; 
 at least one coupling pocket defined in the bit body, the at least one coupling pocket being defined by:
 a pocket back surface; 
 a first pocket side surface comprising a substantially planar surface extending from the pocket back surface; 
 a second pocket side surface comprising a substantially planar surface extending from the pocket back surface, the second pocket side surface being nonparallel to the first pocket side surface; 
 
 at least one debris opening defined in the bit body; 
 at least one cutting element at least partially disposed in the at least one coupling pocket, the at least one cutting element having an arcuate side surface peripherally extending around a majority of a cutting face of the at least one cutting element; 
 wherein:
 the first pocket side surface extends at an angle of between approximately 45° and approximately 90° relative to the second pocket side surface; 
 the first pocket side surface and the second pocket side surface are separated from one another. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The roof-bolt drill bit of  claim 1 , wherein the first pocket side surface and the second pocket side surface are separated from one another by a pocket transition region. 
     
     
       3. The roof-bolt drill bit of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one coupling pocket is further defined by a pocket transition region extending between the first pocket side surface and the second pocket side surface. 
 
     
     
       4. The roof-bolt drill bit of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one fluid delivery port defined in the bit body. 
     
     
       5. The roof-bolt drill bit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a vacuum hole defined in the bit body extending from the at least one debris opening. 
 
     
     
       6. The roof-bolt drill bit of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cutting element comprises two cutting elements positioned circumferentially substantially 180° apart with substantially the same back rake angles and side rake angles. 
     
     
       7. The roof-bolt drill bit of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cutting element comprises a superabrasive table bonded to a substrate. 
     
     
       8. The roof-bolt drill bit of  claim 7 , wherein the superabrasive table comprises a polycrystalline diamond material. 
     
     
       9. The roof-bolt drill bit of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cutting element further comprises a substantially planar surface. 
     
     
       10. The roof-bolt drill bit of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one cutting element comprises:
 a cutting face; 
 an element back surface abutting the pocket back surface; 
 an element side surface extending around an outer periphery of the cutting face, the element side surface comprising:
 a first element side surface positioned adjacent to the first pocket side surface; 
 a second element side surface positioned adjacent to the second pocket side surface; 
 
 
 wherein the arcuate side surface extends from the first element side surface to the second element side surface. 
 
     
     
       11. The roof-bolt drill bit of  claim 1 , wherein the arcuate side surface of the at least one cutting element comprises a partial-cylindrical side surface. 
     
     
       12. The roof-bolt drill bit of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one debris opening is defined in a side portion of the bit body; 
 a portion of the at least one cutting element extends into the debris opening. 
 
     
     
       13. A roof-bolt drill bit, comprising:
 a bit body rotatable about a central axis; 
 at least one coupling pocket defined in the bit body, the at least one coupling pocket being defined by:
 a pocket back surface; 
 a first pocket side surface comprising a substantially planar surface extending from the pocket back surface; 
 a second pocket side surface extending from the pocket back surface, the second pocket side surface being separated from the first pocket side surface by a gap; 
 
 at least one debris opening defined in the bit body; 
 at least one cutting element at least partially disposed in the at least one coupling pocket, the at least one cutting element having an arcuate side surface; 
 wherein the at least one coupling pocket is open to the at least one debris opening via the gap separating the second pocket side surface from the first pocket side surface. 
 
     
     
       14. The roof-bolt drill bit of  claim 13 , further comprising a vacuum hole defined in the bit body extending from the at least one debris opening. 
     
     
       15. The roof-bolt drill bit of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the at least one cutting element comprises:
 a cutting face; 
 an element back surface abutting the pocket back surface; 
 an element side surface extending around an outer periphery of the cutting face, the element side surface comprising:
 a first element side surface positioned adjacent to the first pocket side surface; 
 a second element side surface positioned adjacent to the second pocket side surface; 
 
 
 wherein the arcuate side surface extends from the first element side surface to the second element side surface. 
 
     
     
       16. The roof-bolt drill bit of  claim 13 , wherein a portion of the at least one cutting element extends through the gap separating the second pocket side surface from the first pocket side surface into the debris opening. 
     
     
       17. The roof-bolt drill bit of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one cutting element comprises a superabrasive table bonded to a substrate. 
     
     
       18. The roof-bolt drill bit of  claim 17 , wherein the superabrasive table comprises a polycrystalline diamond material. 
     
     
       19. The roof-bolt drill bit of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one cutting element further comprises a substantially planar surface. 
     
     
       20. The roof-bolt drill bit of  claim 13 , wherein the arcuate side surface of the at least one cutting element comprises a partial-cylindrical side surface.